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cnbc.com
Puig stock soars 15% after Estée Lauder confirms takeover talks with Charlotte Tilbury maker
Shares of Puig Brands soared as much as 15% Tuesday after beauty peer Estée Lauder confirmed it is in talks about merging the two companies.
bbc.com
Australia and EU agree sweeping trade deal in face of global uncertainty
Australia and the EU sign sweeping trade and security deals after years of negotiations.
cnbc.com
European stocks mixed as Iran war uncertainty lingers
Shares listed in Europe traded in mixed territory on Tuesday, as investors continue to monitor developments in the Middle East.
bbc.com
Vet prescription fees to be capped at £21
Vets will have to publish price lists for services under measures from the UK's competition watchdog.
theguardian.com
UK vets face crackdown over fees as pet owners ‘left in the dark’ on bills
Prescription fees to be capped at £21 and practices must publish price lists, watchdog saysBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s competition watchdog has ordered vets to cap prescription fees at £21 and proposed a price comparison website, after finding consumers had faced huge price rises and been “left in the dark” over bills.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said public satisfaction with the cost of services was “low” after an investigation into the £6.3bn market found “there is not strong competition between veterinary businesses”, with large chains dominant. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Gold trades flat after early losses deepened bullion bear market
Gold extended its slide, deepening its grip in bear market territory as investors continued to unwind positions and a strong dollar sapped demand.
theguardian.com
Brent crude oil back over $100 a barrel as optimism over Middle East de-escalation fades – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsMiddle East crisis live: Iran dismisses Trump claim of talks; von der Leyen says global energy situation is ‘critical’Britain’s stock market has opened higher this morning, as investors try to keep yesterday’s Iran relief rally running.The FTSE 100 share index is up 39 points, or 0.4%, at 9,933 points this morning, a day after it recovered from an early 2.5% tumble.“These reforms will reduce the hours spent chasing debt allowing small businesses to focus on more productive and enjoyable growth.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oil rises with Brent crossing $100 a barrel again as Middle East tensions keep traders on edge
Trump's statement sent oil lower Monday, while equities jumped. But the recovery on Tuesday suggests skepticism about a possible de-escalation in Mideast conflict.
cnbc.com
Amazon faces further AWS disruption in the Middle East from Iran conflict
AWS is facing more service disruptions in Bahrain as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, marking the second such disruptions this month.
cnbc.com
British fintech Revolut reports record annual profit as it gears up for U.S. push
The startup, which hit a $75 billion valuation in 2025, is one of Europe's most valuable private tech companies.
bbc.com
Oil back above $100 as conflicting claims emerge on US-Iran talks
Global energy prices plunged on Monday after Trump said he had postponed strikes on Iranian power plants.
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets pare gains as oil rebounds on Iran war-linked uncertainty
Asia-Pacific markets rose but pared earlier gains as oil prices rebounded, underscoring lingering uncertainty over the trajectory of the Middle East conflict.
cnbc.com
White House to pay TotalEnergies $1 billion to kill off East Coast wind farm projects
The announcement comes as the Iran war disrupts global oil and gas supplies, making the U.S.' development of its LNG resources more urgent.
cnbc.com
EU, Australia seal trade deal as Western countries hedge against U.S. risks
The EU and Australia agreed to a sweeping trade deal, the latest move by U.S. allies to rethink their economic ties amid deepening geopolitical uncertainty.
cnbc.com
Gold at $10,000? Market watchers hold firm on forecasts despite bullion bear market slide
Gold's sharp selloff may have pushed the metal firmly into bear market territory, but some market veterans are sticking to ambitious long-term forecasts.
cnbc.com
Japan reports lower-than-expected core inflation for February, headline CPI eases for a fourth month
The consumer price index fell to 1.3% last month, its lowest level since March 2022 and below the central bank's 2% target. It was down from 1.5% in January.
theguardian.com
What sets human consciousness apart from AI? – podcast
Why is it like something to be ourselves and how do physical processes create our subjective experience? These questions get to the heart of the knotty problem of consciousness, and they provided the spark for the latest book from award-winning author and journalist Michael Pollan. In A World Appears, Pollan goes in search of answers about what we do and don’t know about consciousness, and why it has proven such an elusive phenomenon. He tells Ian Sample how thoughts and feelings shape our conscious experience, whether we can learn anything about human consciousness from AI, and why he thinks our minds need to be defended in today’s technology saturated worldOrder A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness by Michael Pollan via the Guardian BookshopHas a 25-year-old bet taken us a step closer to understanding consciousness? Continue reading...
bbc.com
Should Jersey follow English banknote design?
Jersey's banknotes were last refreshed in 2010 - is it time for a redesign?
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Unusual volume spikes and skepticism drive early trade
Global stocks pare gains after Monday's volatile session amid skepticism over the de-escalation efforts between the U.S. and Iran.
cnbc.com
India’s private sector growth slows to over 3-year low in March, weighed down by Mideast conflict
India's private-sector business activity, which had been on an upswing since the start of 2026, falters in March due to shockwaves from the Iran war
bbc.com
China dials back on fuel price hikes to 'reduce burden' on drivers
It comes as countries across the region are taking various measures to weather the soaring cost of fuel.
theguardian.com
Irish metals refinery is in supply chain that feeds Russian war machine, records suggest
Shipments to Russian smelters from Aughinish Alumina have increased sharply since the invasion of UkraineA leading Irish metals refinery is part of an international aluminium supply chain that appears to conclude with shipments to arms producers feeding the Kremlin’s war machine in Ukraine, leaked records and public data suggests.Trading records show that shipments to Russian smelters from Aughinish Alumina, which is located on the Shannon estuary in the west of Ireland and has been owned by the Russian aluminium group Rusal since 2006, have increased sharply since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Trump takes off-ramp on Iran ultimatum
Global markets see some reprieve, after U.S. President Donald Trump signals positive discussions with Tehran.
bbc.com
US bans new foreign-made consumer internet routers
There are almost no major brands of internet routers that are manufactured in the US.
cnbc.com
Apollo gives investors only 45% of requested withdrawals from $15 billion private credit fund
The withdrawals show that Apollo didn't avoid the rush of investor redemptions plaguing rivals, driven by concern over private credit loans to software firms.
bbc.com
Would you build your own apps?
Start-ups are offering tech for novices to create apps with the help of AI.
bbc.com
Royal Mail staff say they were told to hide post to look like delivery targets met
BBC Your Voice hears from postal workers who say "take the mail for ride" is a common phrase.
bbc.com
UK must back North Sea oil and gas drilling, says trade body
The group says the country "urgently" needs to produce its own oil and gas to secure supplies.
theguardian.com
‘We consider every mile we drive’: how fuel shortages are affecting readers worldwide
From a shop owner in India to a community worker in New South Wales, rising fuel prices are forcing people to ration oil usageMiddle East crisis – live updatesAlagesan, 35, needs liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to run his roadside drink and snack shop in Coimbatore, India, but with the fuel shortage since the US-Israel attacks on Iran, he worries his business could fold.“I am far away from the Middle East, but my life is affected,” he said. “The gas cylinder is not available because of the war. I don’t know what to do.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
English and Welsh winemakers report sharp rise in production in 2025
The hot, dry summer and an increase in vineyard planting resulted in the third-largest UK grape harvestEnglish and Welsh winemakers have reported a sharp rise in production, after the hot, dry summer in 2025 and an increase in vineyard planting resulted in the third-largest UK harvest.The equivalent of 16.5m bottles were produced across the UK last year – or 124,377 hectolitres – according to figures from the wine regulator, the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ministers delay new rules for low-carbon housing in England
Homes built from March 2028 will produce 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than those built to 2013 standardBuyers of new homes are likely to be shackled to high gas prices for years to come, as the government has delayed bringing into force new regulations on low-carbon housing.Most newly built homes will come equipped with solar panels and heat pumps from March 2028, according to updated regulations for England called the “future homes standard” (FHS), but the government has relented on plans for more stringent rules under pressure from housebuilders. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump’s ‘very good’ talks with Iran buy him time with oil and energy markets
Tehran denied negotiations that delayed US strikes and Trump was vague on the details, but talks signal renewed push for peace from regional powersMiddle East crisis – live updatesThere have been so many abortive rounds of diplomacy between the US and Iran – the latest appearing to be led by Pakistan after Washington has burned through many other regional mediators – that it was hardly a surprise that President Trump’s claims of “very good” talks with Tehran initially provoked disbelief – especially after Iran denied that any negotiations were taking place at all.Nonetheless, standing beside Air Force One, Trump did his best to sell the sudden detente with little detail as a US ultimatum to bomb Iran’s power plants loomed unless Tehran opened up the strait of Hormuz. It was lost on few that the sudden about-face came just hours before US markets were to open for what promised to be another punishing round of trading on Monday. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ministers rebuff trade body’s call to boost North Sea oil and gas production
Government emphasises need to ‘get off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets’ in response to Offshore Energies UKThe UK government has dismissed a warning from an energy trade body that failing to produce more homegrown North Sea oil and gas will leave the UK increasingly reliant on imports at a time of rising global instability.The industry group, Offshore Energies UK, has said the UK “urgently” needs a greater supply of domestically produced energy or consumers will be left “more exposed to global volatility and higher emissions”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Irish government to cut excise duty on diesel and petrol
Duty on diesel will be reduced by 20 cent and petrol will be cut by 15 cent from midnight on Wednesday.
cnbc.com
India is launching cheap weight-loss drugs — but Novo Nordisk is betting its brands will stay on top
Indian generic drugmakers launch a price war against Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 brands, Ozempic and WeGovy.
cnbc.com
OpenAI calls out Microsoft reliance as risk in investor document ahead of expected IPO
In a document that resembles an IPO prospectus, OpenAI highlighted the risk of its dependence on Microsoft and of supply disruptions at TSMC.
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: The secret sauce behind Alibaba's animation studio
As Hollywood navigates the world of streaming, a Chinese animation studio is doubling down on a viewer-centric approach.
cnbc.com
Iran attacks in Strait of Hormuz are ‘economic terrorism against every nation,’ UAE oil CEO says
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of the UAE's state-owned oil company, said the Strait of Hormuz must re-open to resolve the supply shock.
cnbc.com
Estée Lauder is in talks to merge with Puig amid ongoing turnaround plan
Estée Lauder said Monday the company is in talks to potentially merge with Spanish beauty company Puig.
bbc.com
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder in merger talks with owner of Jean Paul Gaultier and Rabanne
The deal would create a global beauty giant, uniting brands such as Tom Ford, Bobbi Brown and Rabanne.
cnbc.com
Asia wants more U.S. oil and gas to reduce Middle East dependence after Iran war, Burgum says
Japan, South Korea and Taiwan rely heavily on exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
cnbc.com
Volume in stock and oil futures surged minutes before Trump's market-turning post
The timing of the earlier volume spikes — across both equities and crude — caught the attention of traders.
bbc.com
Oil falls and shares rebound after Trump says talks have been held to end war
Energy prices fall and stock markets rebound after the US president says "very good and productive" talks have been held.
cnbc.com
10-year Treasury yield falls after Trump halts strikes against Iran
The benchmark yield fell on Monday after President Donald Trump said further military strikes against Iran had been postponed after "productive" negotiations.
theguardian.com
Bets on US-Iran ceasefire show signs of insider knowledge, say experts
New online accounts on Polymarket platform betting a total of $70,000 suggest ‘some degree of inside info’Middle East crisis – live updatesSeveral accounts on the online platform Polymarket laid bets on a US-Iran ceasefire over the weekend that appeared to show signs of insider knowledge, according to experts.Eight accounts, all newly created around 21 March, bet a total of nearly $70,000 (£52,000) on there being a ceasefire. They stand to make nearly $820,000 if such a deal is reached before 31 March. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Control tower audio captures moments before LaGuardia plane crash – audio
The audio from a control tower at New York's LaGuardia airport captured the moments before a plane collided with a fire truck while landing. An air traffic controller could be heard on a radio transmission at LaGuardia airport giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the runway, then trying to stop it. The pilot and co-pilot of the Air Canada Express regional jet died after the collision which also caused serious injuries, with nine people in the hospital. The airport was closed after the incidentTwo pilots killed after Air Canada jet collision at LaGuardia in New York Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The UK sleepwalked into this energy price shock | Nils Pratley
Many of the decisions predate this government but the notion that Britain was better prepared for this crisis is fanciful“Because of the choices we made before the conflict in the Middle East began, we are better prepared for a more volatile world”, the chief secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, claimed last week. That statement – surprise, surprise – failed to calm the bond vigilantes who had pushed the yield on 10-year government debt to a punishing 5% before Monday’s modest retreat.Murray seemed to be referring to tax increases and the chancellor’s decision to shift £150 of green levies from energy bills into general taxation. Count those if you wish but, come on, they are minor entries. The UK’s vulnerability to energy price shocks flows from bigger forces, such as our large and growing dependency on imports. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ministers tell HS2 to consider slower train speeds to cut costs
Company will assess whether drop to 186mph from 224mph will save money and help bring forward launchMinisters have told High Speed Two to consider running its trains at lower speeds, in an attempt to rein in the spiralling budget and begin operations as soon as possible.HS2 Ltd will assess whether limiting the speed to 186mph (300km/h) instead of 224mph could save money – potentially billions of pounds – and bring the railway into being earlier in the 2030s. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
China sees long lines at the gas pump as Mideast turmoil hits
The China state refiner issued a notice Sunday that the price of gas will be set higher by a "meaningful" amount starting March 24.
theguardian.com
Trump flip-flops on Iran deadline | The Latest
Donald Trump has said he is postponing strikes on Iranian power plants for a five-day period, extending a deadline he gave the regime to open the strait of Hormuz. The US president had threatened to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants, while Tehran said in return it would ‘irreversibly destroy’ essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, in the conflict’s latest escalation. The war in the Middle East is now in its fourth week as Trump declares the US and Iran had ‘good and productive conversations’, but what could come next? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour Continue reading...
theguardian.com
MPs urge UK government to halt contract giving Palantir FCA data access
Awarding US spy-tech company deal involving sensitive financial data is ‘huge error of judgment’, Liberal Democrats sayMPs have urged the government to halt its latest contract with Palantir after the Guardian revealed that the US spy-tech company is to gain access to a trove of highly sensitive UK financial regulation data.The Financial Conduct Authority, the watchdog for thousands of financial bodies from banks to hedge funds, has hired Palantir to apply its AI systems to two years’ worth of internal intelligence data to help it tackle financial crime. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
A war and maybe an unprecedented depression: it’s Trump’s mania, but now all of us will pay the price | Polly Toynbee
It had been possible to observe this presidency in abstract terms, but no more. The consequences of the Iran attack will affect our lives and our politicsNothing has changed. Yet. But we stand on the edge of inevitable economic cataclysm, such as not seen in our lifetimes. It’s an odd, hold-your-breath moment, waiting for what the International Energy Agency (IEA) says is now certain to happen: an energy crisis so critical it will be the equivalent of the two oil crises in 1973 and 1979 and Russia’s 2022 full invasion of Ukraine, put together.The IEA says it’s already too late to prevent this impending energy crisis. President Donald Trump has swerved the Armageddon destruction of oil and gas facilities threatening the entire Middle East, but too late. The deep recession, probably depression, that his war has caused is heading around the globe. Britain will be hard hit.Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
AI boom risks widening wealth divide, says BlackRock’s Larry Fink
CEO of asset manager says only a few firms and investors may reap rewards from growth in the technologyThe boom in artificial intelligence risks widening inequality, with only a handful of companies and investors likely to reap its financial rewards, the BlackRock chief executive, Larry Fink, has said.The boss of the $14tn (£10.4tn) asset manager used his annual letter to investors on Monday to highlight potential hazards around the exponential growth in AI, which has attracted rapid investment and become, he said, “central to strategic competition” between global powers such as the US and China. Continue reading...
bbc.com
HS2 trains could run slower than planned to save money
The government is looking at ways to make much-delayed London to Birmingham railway line cheaper to deliver.
theguardian.com
There must be more support for young people who are seeking jobs | Letters
Readers respond to articles on the causes and effects of youth unemploymentRegarding Polly Toynbee’s article (Young people want to work: now there may be jobs for them, 17 March), as a young person, I believe that the government must rebuild trust in its support, or young people will continue to be held back. I am now working, but I know what it’s like to leave university and face unemployment: constant rejection, confusion and anxiety about what comes next. It is scary. But what Polly describes isn’t unusual; it’s the reality for many, and repeated rejections knock your confidence.Support on offer has struggled to keep up with the growing challenges that young people face. The issue runs deeper than “lingering stigma” – it’s embedded in the system. The constant threat of losing your benefits if you fail to meet job search requirements undermines trust and engagement. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Porridge recalled months after mouse contamination
Moma Foods says a third-party facility found "a mouse contamination event" last autumn.
cnbc.com
BTS comeback draws a smaller crowd than hoped, hitting parent company Hybe's shares
Shares in Hybe, the parent company of South Korean boyband BTS, fell 15% on Monday as their much-anticipated comeback drew a smaller crowd than expected.
bbc.com
Huel bought by Danone in €1bn deal
The health firm backed by actor Idris Elba and broadcaster Jonathan Ross is being bought by Danone for €1bn (£860m).
cnbc.com
Trump tells CNBC 'we are very intent on making a deal' with Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he would order the military to postpone strikes on Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
theguardian.com
Trump rows back on strait of Hormuz threat – what next? | podcast
The US president has extended by five days his deadline to ‘hit and obliterate’ Iran’s power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran does not allow shipping to move freely. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what is behind this change of tone and the impact the uncertainty will have on the cost of living in the UK.Plus, with just over six weeks until the local elections, they talk through what to watch as the results come in Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Leonid Radvinsky, owner of OnlyFans, dies aged 43
Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned subscription service for adult content died of cancer, the company saysLeonid Radvinsky, the owner of OnlyFans, has died of cancer at the age of 43, the company announced on Monday.“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Leo Radvinsky. Leo passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer,” said a spokesperson for the company, best known for subscriptions to pornographic content creators. “His family have requested privacy at this difficult time.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky dies at 43
Leo Radvinsky became a billionaire after investing in the site, known for its pornographic content.
theguardian.com
EasyJet bookings fall because of Iran war as boss warns of air fare rises
Airline has hedged much of fuel into 2027, avoiding soaring prices, but costs likely to hit passengers by end of summerBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of easyJet has said the war in the Middle East has started to hit flight bookings, while the soaring price of oil would probably mean a rise in air fares by the end of the summer.The chief executive, Kenton Jarvis, said that while the airline had hedged much of its fuel into next year, avoiding soaring kerosene prices, it was “unavoidable” that some of the costs would be passed on in fares. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Pauline Black helps celebrate hub funding
The Lottery funding for the Destination Ball Hill group will allow it to expand services for locals.
bbc.com
'We can't justify a £52 lunch': Middle-income families cut back on days out
A household with an average gross income of £55,000 has cut spending on leisure activities by £40 a week, offical figures suggest.
theguardian.com
Idris Elba-backed firm Huel bought by Danone in €1bn deal
Co-founder Julian Hearn and actor likely to get big payday after takeover by French groupBusiness live – latest updatesHuel, the protein shake maker which counts the actor Idris Elba among its investors, has agreed to be acquired by the French consumer goods group Danone in a deal worth about €1bn (£870m).The British company, which makes food powders, snack bars and meals from a blend of plant-based ingredients and fortified with vitamins, started out selling its powders online. It is now available in more than 25,000 stores around the world. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK mortgage interest rates expected to rise despite Trump’s Iran pause
Bank of England likely to make two quarter-point increases amid sustained rise in inflation, investors believeBusiness live – latest updates‘Trumpflation’: how the Iran war’s economic storm could affect BritonsHomeowners’ choice of mortgage deals has shrunk and interest rates on home loans are expected to rise this week despite financial markets reacting positively to Donald Trump’s pause on his threat to attack Iranian power plants.Early on Monday, as the end of a two-day deadline set by Trump for a deal with Iran grew closer, financial market data implied that investors believed the Bank of England would attempt to tackle rising prices with four quarter-point increases in rates before the end of December. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
World’s broadcasters urge EU to tighten rules for big tech in smart TV battle
Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung control operating systems, allowing them to act as gatekeepers, letter claimsBusiness live – latest updatesThe world’s largest broadcasters have pushed for the EU to enforce its toughest regulations against virtual TVs and smart assistants built by Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung.The call came in a letter from the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT), whose members include Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Sky and TF1 Groupe. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why do the West's farmers pay the price for war in Iran?
Rising oil prices caused by the war in the Gulf has caused an "overnight shock" to west country farmers.
theguardian.com
BT keeps my 90-year-old mother waiting three months to reinstate phone number
Ordeal left vulnerable woman living alone cut off from family, friends and doctorsMy 90-year-old mother was sent home from hospital to die at the end of last year. Since she lives alone, and I’m her sole carer, it was essential that she get broadband so a personal alarm could be fitted.BT told her she’d have to have a temporary phone number while Openreach carried out the work. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US weight-loss drugmakers slash prices in fight to win customers
Weight-loss drug prices are falling in the US - but can the example be repeated?
theguardian.com
‘Luxury takes time. We don’t have time’: The former top military officer on a mission to fix the Dutch housing crisis
Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan plans to simplify the housebuilding process to tackle shortage of 400,000 homesElanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan is on a mission. The new housing minister of the Netherlands is charged with building 100,000 homes a year and breaking through a planning deadlock to combat one of Europe’s worst housing crises.The Irish-born 50-year-old is new to politics. Until a fortnight ago she was the country’s top female military officer, famous for getting flak jackets redesigned for women’s bodies and holding her own in a male-dominated sphere. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘You can feel it’: South Yorkshire revival gathers pace as new industries move in
From steel to screen, podcasts to defence, Sheffield’s economy is diversifying amid a wave of new investmentIt has seen its fair share of Hollywood parties – albeit with a twist. Instead of champagne and caviar it is usually Guinness and scampi fries. Red carpet? There aren’t even cushions on the seats.The tiny Sheffield pub, Fagan’s, has raised more than a few toasts in the last year as Adolescence, the Netflix hit made by two of its owners, scooped multiple awards at the Emmys and Golden Globes and became one of the world’s most-watched dramas. Continue reading...
bbc.com
BTS agency shares drop after comeback show turnout falls short
The concert was attended by an estimated 104,000 fans, much lower than the expected 260,000.
cnbc.com
Opinion: As Trump eyes Cuba, my trips there a decade ago remind me how different things were
Trump has threatened a 'friendly takeover' of Cuba after cutting it off from Venezuela's oil. CNBC's Justin Solomon reflects how different things used to be.
bbc.com
Heat pumps work for me - but they're not yet a money saver
The government wants Britons to embrace heat pumps. But will they ever make financial sense for the average user?
bbc.com
Germany has a shortage of workers - so it's turning to India for help
The European nation, struggling to find skilled staff, is giving jobs to young people from India.
bbc.com
Call to cancel threat of prison for council tax non-payment
Debt charity StepChange says there are clear differences between councils when chasing unpaid tax.
cnbc.com
A Netflix cooking show is changing how people travel — and restaurants are seeing bookings jump 303%
Asia's food tourism scene attempts to angle itself between gourmet and authentic street food. Netflix show "Culinary Class Wars" replicates this contradiction.
cnbc.com
Not just buying 'things': Why China's emotional economy is on the rise
Amid a prolonged economic slowdown, one segment of the world's second-largest economy is growing quicker than the rest: China's so-called emotional economy.
theguardian.com
Moma brand recalls porridge products over possible mice contamination
Customers told not to eat affected pot and sachet products and to return them to place of purchase for refundSeveral porridge products in the UK have been recalled over a possible mice contamination at their manufacturing site.The British porridge and oat drink brand Moma issued a warning for seven versions of its pots and two of its sachets. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Campaign groups rail against Palantir, but the UK contracts keep coming
AI analytics firm has become influential in Whitehall, and FCA deal gives it yet more access to dataPalantir extends reach into British state as it gets access to sensitive FCA dataPalantir’s latest UK contract takes the AI and data analytics company into the heart of one of Britain’s biggest industries: financial services, which accounts for 9% of the economy.The Miami-based company embedded its technology in the NHS in 2023, the police in 2024 and the military in 2025. Land and expand, they say in the tech industry. Palantir has followed the script, building contracts worth more than £500m. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
It’s time to take politics out of the Small Business Administration
The White House’s politicization of the agency will have a real-world impact on small business owners in the USKelly Loeffler, the new administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), announced recently that the agency charged with supporting the businesses that are the backbone of the US economy would no longer be approving loans to small business owners unless they are US citizens. If you’re a legal, tax-paying immigrant with a green card and full residency? No loans for you.This is a big mistake. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘The new ketchup’? How hummus spread beyond a niche into a British staple
News that chickpea dip is to join list of products used for UK inflation basket confirms its move into the mainstreamThe best (and worst) supermarket hummus tasted and ratedIt is a sign of the times. This week it was revealed that hummus is joining the list of foods used to measure the cost of living in Britain as the ubiquity of the dip at mealtimes sees it billed as the “new ketchup”.The decision to drop a pot of hummus in the inflation basket is a moment for the all-conquering chickpea dip, which arrived on supermarket shelves in the late 1980s. Since then Britons have gone from spending virtually nothing to £170m a year on the versatile stuff. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Energy shock talk grabs headlines but the Iran war is also driving the world towards a food crisis | Heather Stewart
Growers face soaring fertiliser and fuel costs as shipping choke point of the strait of Hormuz hits supply chains‘The stakes are enormous’: how a prolonged Iran war could shock the global economyIt is peak harvesting season for avocados in the lush southern highlands of Tanzania but growers are racing against time to find buyers for the precious green fruits before they become overripe.Donald Trump’s disastrous Middle East war is being felt in the world’s energy markets but oil and gas are not the only products that transit through the maritime choke point of the strait of Hormuz. The conflict is also hitting supply chains elsewhere. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Energy bills rise 'inescapable' if oil prices stay high, says British Gas boss
The boss of Centrica says it is "too early" to speculate but if oil costs continue to rise, homes will be hit.
theguardian.com
‘Trumpflation’: how the Iran war’s economic storm could affect Britons
Yet another cost of living crisis looms with fuel, food, holiday, energy and home loan prices expected to riseMiddle East crisis – live updatesHere we go again. For Britons it has been a rollercoaster few years and just as better times seemed ahead the country has been plunged into a fresh cost of living crisis.The economic storm caused by war in the Middle East is already pushing up the cost of key household outgoings, including mortgage payments, energy bills and driving. There are warnings that the weekly shop will be next. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We can create hype’: H&M’s UK boss on its commitment to the high street
As the chain marks 50th anniversary in Britain, Karen O’Rourke explains what makes it stand out against cut-price rivalsAlmost exactly 50 years after H&M opened its first British store, the doors on its newest, in Brighton, swung open this week and the Swedish fashion company’s UK boss is determined to keep investing in the nation’s high streets despite its struggles.In 1976, H&M opened in the brand-new Brent Cross shopping centre, the first American-style out of town mall to grace these shores. Its opening was such an event that the then Prince Charles attended. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Slop it like it’s hot: the rise of build-your-own takeaway salad bowls
How did this pick-n-mix salad-and-protein sludge become a typical working lunch?Few things have killed the leisurely lunch like capitalism, but to really see this in action, the food court of London’s financial shadowland, Canary Wharf, is a good place to start. Wandering the warren of Prets and Itsus are Deliveroo riders and suits-on-the-clock. And they’re usually carrying the same thing: a nice big bowl of slop.A slop bowl is the universal term for a mishmash of pick-your-own dishes assembled and sold in fast-casual spots that have become the de facto working lunch. The contents vary (they tend to feature Asian and eastern Mediterranean dishes) but as the name suggests, it is always served in a bowl, and by the time you’ve got to your desk, has usually become slop. They can cost anything from £7 to £25 depending on what you add – much like coffee, the slop bowl is as customisable as a modular shelving unit from Ikea. This sounds like a lot. But we also live in an era where a salad bowl from Pret can cost £12, so maybe it’s not. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Friendship fraud: warnings of rise in ‘insidious’ scam targeting older people
Fraudsters exploit isolation and search for human contact to often devastating effect. These are steps you can take to avoid themAs you have got older, retirement has left you with more time on your hands. Loneliness has set in. Luckily, you have found a friend through one of the online motoring groups you are in, and a close bond has blossomed over your common interest in cars.But your new friend has found themselves short when it comes to paying for their university textbooks, and has asked you for £50. It’s not much, and you get on so well that you agree to pay via bank transfer. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘The stakes are enormous’: how a prolonged Iran war could shock the global economy
Donald Trump’s ‘little excursion’ is likely to have long-term effects, from oil prices to inflation to growth, say expertsIn the days after the US and Israel first bombed Iran, financial markets bet the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s “little excursion” in the Middle East would be short-lived.“There are risks from higher oil prices longer term. But this is a tail risk,” one US-based fund manager said after the airstrike killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “History has shown time and time again that geopolitical flare-ups like this tend to be short-lived. This one should prove to be no exception.’’ Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Club vibes without the hangover': The twenty-somethings going out - in the gym
Young people are driving a gym boom as more fitness spaces are transformed into vibrant hangouts.
theguardian.com
‘Liquid gold’: heating oil thefts rise in Northern Ireland as Iran war sends prices soaring
Police issue alerts and security tips to households reliant on heating oil to deter a crime that can leave victims with bills of thousandsThere is no subtle way to receive heating oil deliveries in rural Northern Ireland: clearly marked tankers trundle through roads and lanes and park outside homes while they replenish storage tanks.The trucks’ comings and goings are visible to the entire community, indicating which households have stocked up on oil, and that is a problem because criminals monitor deliveries to identify targets. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s stupid’: why western carmakers’ retreat from electric risks dooming them to irrelevance
Iran war should be wake-up call about costs of not going full throttle towards EVs as Chinese have done, experts sayBy the 1980s, Detroit’s once titanic carmakers were being upended by rivals from Japan. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler had grown rich selling gas guzzlers, but when oil prices rose and suddenly cheap, fuel-efficient Japanese models looked attractive, they were unprepared. The collapse in sales led to hundreds of thousands of job losses in the automotive heartland of the US.Now western car manufacturers are making what one former boss calls a similar “profound strategic mistake” as they pull back from electric vehicles (EVs) and refocus on the combustion engine just as oil prices are soaring once again. Experts say the industry’s future – and that of tens of millions of jobs – could be on the line. This time, however, the threat is from China. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s come at the wrong time’: how Iran war has floored the Gulf as a sports hub
Conflict has not only hit sporting calendar but laid bare weakness in plans for diversifying economies through sportMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe sight of Nasser al-Khelaifi grounded in Doha when Paris Saint Germain hosted Chelsea in the last-16 of the Champions League last week provided a symbolic illustration of the fragility of the Gulf’s sports project amid the conflict in the Middle East.Al-Khelaifi is the president of PSG, the chair of Qatar Sports Investments and, most crucially, the European Football Clubs, a lobby group that, along with Uefa, runs the Champions League. He is seen as the second-most powerful individual in world football, after the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino. Yet, with Qatari airspace closed, the 52-year-old was forced to miss his first PSG match for years. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Home working, long leases and rise of parking apps - what went wrong for NCP
How could a company that charged as much as £65 for a day's parking fail to turn a profit?
bbc.com
Hargreaves Lansdown resolves IT issues affecting thousands
The finance firm has apologised for the disruption to its website and app, which has angered many customers.
bbc.com
Trump-backed television merger moves forward
Critics fear the consolidation will add to strains facing local news and degrade coverage.
bbc.com
Work from home and drive more slowly to save energy, global body urges
People should change how they travel, work and cook to tackle the energy price crisis, the International Energy Agency says.
bbc.com
UK borrowing costs hit highest since 2008 financial crisis
The interest rate on government debt is climbing over fears about inflation, interest rates, and public spending, experts have said.
bbc.com
Energy bills forecast to rise by £332 a year in July
Cornwall Insight says the recent surge in energy prices due to the Iran war is set to push up household bills.
bbc.com
Did you know you could transfer your ISA?
Martin Lewis explains how you can make the most of your ISA.
bbc.com
Colombia's budding tech scene needs a cash boost
Colombia has become a tech hub for Latin America, but attracting investors is a challenge.
bbc.com
Russia, China and the US – the global winners and losers of the Iran war
As the conflict triggers economic disruption some risk being hit hard, while others stand to benefit.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
Why the average age of a first-time buyer has risen
The average age of a first-time buyer in England has risen from 29 to 34.
bbc.com
How Finnish supermarkets are central to the country's defence
The chains all have detailed plans to follow in the event of the nation going to war.
bbc.com
Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
bbc.co.uk
Selling Sheffield Wednesday
BBC Sport looks at one of England’s most famous football clubs’ fight for survival.
bbc.co.uk
Witness History
On 2 March 2006, India and the United States finalised a controversial nuclear deal
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.
bbc.com
Can Ukraine's war-torn wheatfields be cleansed?
Researchers take 8,000 soil samples from battlefields to see if it is safe to grow crops.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
bbc.com
A small US grocer is calling out the lower prices at big chains
It is 'impossible for us to compete', says the boss of a New York grocery store.
bbc.com
The Aldi-style disruptors who could be about to shake up the vets market
As pet owners complain of rising prices, independent practices want to take on the big chains.
bbc.com
GPS jamming: The invisible battle in the Middle East
GPS jamming has made navigation hazardous in the Gulf, spurring efforts to develop alternatives.
bbc.com
Spain's migrants welcome amnesty: 'It will help us in every way'
Madrid cites humanitarian and economic reasons to give undocumented workers legal status.
bbc.com
Can snacks help you sleep?
Chocolates, bars, gummies and drinks promise to help you sleep, but is the science behind them sound?
bbc.com
We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
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